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{
    "id": 526891,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/526891/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 111,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Billow",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 260,
        "legal_name": "Billow Adan Kerrow",
        "slug": "billow-kerrow"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, my colleagues in this House very passionately defended the rights of this House to debate the Makueni Impeachment Motion. They very passionately said that the matter cannot be sub judice. I want to remind our colleagues that Kenyans will judge us harshly. If yesterday we were very passionate that this House was right to debate a matter in court and a few months later we very passionately again say that we have no right, Kenyans will judge us harshly. I want to emphasize one point; that this House does not have the power – we all know – to render or to declare any law unconstitutional. Our responsibility as Parliament is to make laws. It is the responsibility of the Judiciary to interpret the law. It is the Judiciary which has the powers to declare it unconstitutional. So, I will agree if there is an argument that we do not have powers to make those kinds of decisions. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to ask our colleagues in this House that today we should not forfeit our right to challenge the National Assembly. For me the focus is the National Assembly and not the Judiciary. I wish I saw this Motion earlier because I would have convinced my friend to write it in a different way although it can still be amended. The focus of our attention should be the National Assembly because that is where the requirement in the Constitution Cap.110 that you should have been consulted by the Speaker of the National Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in fact, what many of us came to hear today is for you to tell us whether you were consulted or not. If you told us that you were not consulted, then we, as a House, will decide. Gentlemen, we have gone to court with a list of Bills challenging the National Assembly on why those Bills went to the President for assent before being The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}